Washougal Mayor Sean Guard has declared an emergency as a result of the high levels of radon gas in city buildings. The declaration allows the city to hire mitigation specialists without going out to bid for the work.
Guard called a special emergency meeting of the city council at 4:30 p.m. Friday at City Hall, 1701 C St. The council will vote to approve the emergency declaration and suspend the normal bid procedures to award a mitigation contract. If the contract is approved, mitigation efforts would begin Saturday.
The Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency recommended the city hire certified radon mitigation specialists after tests last week at City Hall revealed high levels of radon gas. Testing measured radon levels between 11 picoCuries of radiation per liter (pCi/L) and 26 pCi/L, with the highest levels in the basement. The EPA suggests levels below 4 pCi/L.
Most city staff has been relocated to other buildings, and doors and windows at City Hall have been left open to ventilate the building. Still, radon levels measured 16 pCi/L in the basement Thursday morning. Guard ordered testing of all other city buildings. Those results should be back by Monday, he said.